Paper Map Collection
The Geospatial, Map and Data Centre is located on the 2nd floor of Toronto Metropolitan University Libraries, within the Ronald D. Besse Information and Learning Commons. A collection of over 20,000 paper maps is located in the main GIS & Data teaching lab.
National Topographic System (NTS) Maps
A complete run of National Topographic System (NTS) sheets at 1:250 000 and 1:50 000 (plus selected 1:25 000 index sheets) anchors the paper map collection in the GMDC. The maps are filed by scale and sheet number. Index maps are available on top of the map cabinets.
Thematic Paper Maps
The majority of the thematic maps in the collection focus on Southern Ontario and the Toronto Region with various series issued by the province and municipalities. In addition, a small selection of maps cover the rest of Canada and other countries around the world. This component of TMU Libraries’ paper map collection can be searched using the advanced OMNI Search box. For best results, limit your Search within ‘TMU Libraries’ and select ‘Maps’ as the Resource Type.
Access Note: The majority of our historical paper maps covering the City of Toronto are stored in Closed Stacks. Please contact GMDC staff to request maps in Closed Stacks. We aim to answer paper map requests within 48 hours.
Visit the Thematic Paper Map page to learn more about this collection.
Scanned Maps (Topographic, Aerial Photos, Fire Insurance Plans)
Many paper maps have been digitized or are discoverable through partner portals. Scholars GeoPortal offers high-resolution scans of historical NTS sheets and complete provincial air-photo mosaics that are available to TMU patrons. Supporting local research, the City of Toronto Archives hosts fully viewable aerial photographs (1947-1992) and fire-insurance plans (1858-1973) that capture historical features across the city.
Visit the Scanned Topo Maps page to learn more about scanned topographic map collections.